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Peavy has ace value beyond the numbers

Peavy has ace value beyond the numbers

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Don Cooper and Jake Peavy

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CHICAGO -- Chris Sale leads White Sox starters with 17 victories, a 2.78 ERA, a .222 average against and most compliments given out by opposing hitters. But ask the first-year rotation member if he's the ace of the staff for the American League Central leaders and he'll quickly and consistently defer to Jake Peavy.

Peavy evened his record at 11-11 in the White Sox victory over the Twins on Sunday and tops the South Siders with 198 2/3 innings pitched, 29 starts made and 177 strikeouts. His importance as a leader on this staff goes beyond the statistics, though, with his veteran influence helping younger pitchers like Sale.

"I try to be the best teammate I can be," said Peavy, who ranks third in the Majors with 21 quality starts. "That's being observant and talking to guys in a humble way, not ever thinking like you are getting on anybody, and just trying to be a teammate.

"We are all pulling the same rope here. We are all pulling the same direction. If I can say something or help somebody prepare or give some knowledge in any which direction, I'm certainly going to do that in hopes we are a better team because of it."

Peavy tries to lead by example in terms of the intensity and preparation he brings to the field, but also enjoys interacting with his teammates. The right-hander will open this weekend's series in Anaheim and then have home and away starts against Cleveland, before he hopes this first healthy season with the White Sox moves on to the postseason.

"Hopefully in Chicago, people see me for who I am now and not the hurt and injured guy that I was for the first few years," Peavy said. "I'm truly healthy now. I give it everything I got in between starts and on my starting day."